Windsor Locks CT Thunderstorm Brings Microbursts Downs Trees and Wires

On June 15, 2009 the Windsor Locks Fire Department was called to 45 Suffield Street, responding to a house fire according to their website, "Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire blowing out a second floor window in the rear of the house. An adult and three children managed to escape the fire. No one was injured and the fire is under investigation by the Windsor Locks Fire Marshal's office. Photo Gallery (114 pics). Picture 5 shows a good view of the front of the house, and the fire, and the tree that was in front of the property.

At the time a lightning-strike was thought to have caused the blaze.

The neighbor, Sarah Jones remarked, "They just finished their remodel after the fire. Oh no, how could this happen, those poor people!" They weren't alone this time and fortunately, there was no fire reported in this vicinity.

Travelers stranded in WL today for a short period of time

Several streets in the town were blocked due to downed power-lines. On June 5^th, 2010 at approximately 4:15 another thunderstorm struck Windsor Locks and 45 Suffield Street was once again struck. This time the wires that connected the power-lines and junction box to the house were ripped from the structure by tree damage caused by heavy winds.

Traffic was going in circles as the town service departments tried to re-route traffic.

Eyewitness to thunderstorm

Thunder was heard in the distance and around 4:15pm EST the sky opened up. A heavy deluge of rain quickly brought rising puddles at the rate of an inch every five minutes. Visibility was down and wind bursts began coming in from the West, from Rte 75 near Bradley Airport, and moving towards the North, towards Suffield.

The rain began blowing hard from one direction and then the opposite direction, almost like it was visibly stacking, one way and then the other, and then the wind shifted gears and began blowing fiercely from the North back to the West. Debris was flying through the air and big trees were creaking.

Power was intermittent, going on and off in the Graves Street area. Within twenty minutes the storm had passed, and the sun was shining, leaving destruction through town. The fire department and police responded rapidly re-directing or halting traffic from around wires. Trees down on Suffield and Main Street prevented traffic from moving from the northeastern end of town. Traffic had to weave its way through back streets up towards the highway, as North Street was also shut down due to downed power-lines and live wires.

See the pictures 6/5/2010 Windsor Locks Thunderstorm Photos. Notice the crime scene tape in several photos.

Sources:
Personal experience
Sarah Jones